Mortgage lenders have been quietly and arguably making it more challenging for the average landlord, as they continue to impose tougher checks and criterion on buy-to-let mortgages. Leading to the question, is property investment becoming a rich person’s game? Barclays Bank have followed the lead of building society and second-largest lender in the UK, Nationwide and tightened their mortgage lending criteria, meaning that the minimal rental cover which is now required has increased from 135%…

After the banking crisis of recent years the idea of a 5% deposit at one stage looked unlikely to return to the mortgage market, but this week Barclays announced the return of the 0% deposit mortgage for home buyers. Sounded great as a headline, but there’s a catch! The 0% deposit is available when using the, “family springboard” mortgage, meaning that no deposit is required when a “helper”, most likely the home buyer’s parents, put…

To make money with affiliate programs and create additional revenue streams whether you are officially in business or not, can be a great way to earn residual income, and one of the simply ways to achieve this if you have a website, webpage or social media page is to join relevant affiliate programs. As long as people visit your website, blog or social media, this method for attracting income can be particularly effective. Not only…

Do you know how to Protect Yourself from a Crash for Cash scam? Birmingham has been named as the country’s “crash-for-cash” capital – with one in four fake UK accidents taking place in our city, according to incidents detected by insurance company Aviva. Reported by Birmingham Mail, ‘the figures include induced accidents, where fraudsters deliberately target innocent motorists to claim whiplash compensation, as well as staged accidents, when two damaged cars are brought together to…

NoVo Foundation to invest $90 million to Women of Colour Philanthropy is a feature for many millionaires and billionaires, including Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs. As part of his legacy, his son Peter and daughter-in-law Jennifer established the NoVo foundation in 2006. Earlier this week, they announced their latest initiative to invest $90 million over seven years to fight the structural inequalities facing young women of colour all over the United…

By 2025 one fifth of the West Midlands could be renting from private landlords, according to the analysis by financial services firm PWC. Previous research suggests that in the year2000 only 7% of people were renting from private landlords and 70% owned their own home in the region, but continuing trends and patterns for home ownership suggests that in less than a decade, home ownership will drop by 8% and renting rise by 12% to…

Brummie is getting its own ‘bonds’ which will be used to pay for new homes in the city have won business backing. Reported by Birmingham Post, ‘Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce says the proposals by new Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy to invest the public sector pension pot in new houses and infrastructure could tap into a ‘potentially great untapped asset.’ Coun Clancy has previously stated that he ‘wants to use the £11 billion…

To make the State Pension “sustainable”, the DWP have defended their reforms, which their own figures confirm will leave at least 16 million people under 43 years old, worse off. The positive news is that those in their 50s and 60s will do best. Coming on top of the challenges already faced by those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, including less well paid job opportunities and struggles to get onto the property ladder, it…

Are you feeling the adverse financial effects of Christmas? Do you need a remedy for a Christmas Debt hangover? The Independent reported on Wednesday that, according to the Money Advice Service, ‘almost one in three of us felt pressured to spend more than we could afford just before and over the festive period, while one in 10 people have fallen into debt, or further into existing debt, as a result of spending too much’. So…

A guide on how to best protect yourself this Christmas and into 2016 With Christmas just around the corner this is not just the season to be jolly, but to be aware and alert. Millions of shoppers rushing around strapped with cash with purchases on their mind is a fraudsters dream. But it could soon become your nightmare when that January statement acts as the worst gift you will ever receive through the post. Here…